Reliable Feeding to Tablet Press with Matcon IBCs
The Matcon Cone Valve, fitted within the outlet of each IBC, feeds product directly into the tablet press quickly and automatically. Because it creates mass-flow discharge, all particles move down through the IBC together. This keeps the blend uniform from the first tablet to the last, protecting content uniformity (CU) throughout the entire discharge process.
Traditional butterfly valve bins cannot reliably guarantee this, which makes the Cone Valve IBC a clear step forward for pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Why Does Blend Uniformity Matter When Feeding a Tablet Press?
Content uniformity is one of the most closely watched quality measures in tablet manufacturing. If the powder blend separates during discharge, the active ingredient concentration will vary from tablet to tablet. This creates batch failures, regulatory risk, and wasted production time.
Matcon IBCs promote mass-flow discharge which keeps every particle moving at the same rate, so the blend that leaves the blender arrives at the tablet press exactly as it was intended, without any blend separation.
How Do Matcon IBCs Handle Difficult Powders?
Not all powders behave well during the OSD pharmaceutical manufacturing process steps. Some bridge across the outlet of the container, others form rat-holes that stop flow entirely, and some compact over time or stick to container walls.
Matcon IBCs are designed to prevent all of these problems. Also preventing material retention and material sticking to walls, which would affect the consistency of feed to the tablet press.
The Cone Valve applies a gentle, controlled pressure pulse to break any compaction and promote smooth, consistent flow. This is especially important when handling notoriously challenging active pharmaceutical ingredients such as metformin, where inconsistent flow directly threatens tablet quality. Take a look at our case studies for proof.
What Feeding Problems Can the Cone Valve Solve for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers commonly face three feeding problems: inconsistent flow rates, powder segregation during transfer, and material sticking to container walls causing retention.
The Matcon Cone Valve addresses all three in a single, integrated system. Controlled mass-flow prevents segregation. The valve's active discharge mechanism and annular flow eliminates bridging and rat-holing. Smooth internal surfaces with no ledges or dead zones prevent powder retention. The result is a feeding process that is repeatable, auditable, and suited to high-volume tablet production.
How Does Cone Valve IBC Feeding Compare to Traditional Butterfly IBC Systems?
Traditional butterfly valve bins discharge in a funnel-flow pattern, where material in the centre flows first and material at the walls moves last. This can cause the blend to separate by particle size and density before it even reaches the tablet press.
IBCs with Cone Valve technology eliminates this by ensuring all material moves as a single, uniform mass. This delivers a good blend quality and a consistent flow of material to the tablet press enabling you to optimise efficiency. For a broader look at how IBC systems improve pharmaceutical production, see our guide on pharmaceutical manufacturing best practice.
